Union insists SSL re-hire employee, threatens to strike

Workers of the Ottley Hall based St Vincent Shipyard Limited (SSL) may be on the picket line this week, if one of their co-workers, who was fired earlier this month, is not reinstated.

Most of the workers, members of the National Workers Movement (NWM), have threatened to take industrial action if Andrew Browne is not returned to the post for which he was made redundant by SSL management.{{more}}

NWM president Noel Jackson explained last week the reason for the latest threat by the Union against the Venezuelan owned company. He said that this latest threat by the workers comes after months of tension between the management and the SSL.

“Mr Browne was approached by Mr Raviotti while he was on the dock and asked him to remove himself. So he (Browne) said, ‘I’m an employee here.’”

Jackson said that Browne was then ordered by Raviotti to accompany him to the office. He then told Browne that he was going to suspend him, and then moments later decided to fire Browne.

Jackson described Browne as “A very qualified electrician who held senior positions at VINLEC and the St Vincent Port Authority.

“As it is now, we are adamant that Browne must be reinstated. If he is not reinstated…we have already agreed that failure to reinstate Mr. Browne will result in industrial action.”

Jackson revealed that the Union had planned to picket the shipyard last week Monday, following what was deemed unsatisfactory treatment of workers and what appeared to be the company’s refusal to address the Union’s collective agreement.

He said that the Union decided to “renovate” their action after a letter was sent to Raviotti by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, criticizing the labour relations at the facility.

Gonsalves’ letter came on the heels of a report prepared by Labour Commissioner Nerissa Gittens, who stated that upon investigations, it was determined that the management of the shipyard was not available when needed for discussions and that conditions at the shipyard were substandard.

The letter by the Prime Minister subsequently led to Raviotti offering a draft collective agreement.

There are currently 57 persons employed at the facility, 38 of whom are Vincentian nationals.